Following In The Footsteps Of The White Princess

SUDELEY CASTLE

Few gardens in England are as pretty as the ones you'll find at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Dating back to the 15th Century, this stately rural pile is famed for its exquisitely landscaped surroundings - including the Queen's Garden, so-named because it was frequented by the likes of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. So, bonus points for the Tudor connection, but why was it picked for The White Princess? Well, the creators reckoned its iconic greenery would serve very nicely for scenes set in the gardens of Westminster. And they were right.

TITHE BARN

At first glance, the Tithe Barn in Bradford-on-Avon is a fairly unassuming sort of place. It's a handsome structure for sure, but you might not imagine this subtle stone barn to be a fitting place for a queen to hold court. But, thanks to a bit of technical wizardry, majestic set dressing and ambient lighting, it was transformed into the throne room of The White Princess. Fittingly, the Tithe Barn - whose most striking feature is its timber ceiling - actually dates back to the 14th Century. And, rather ironically, it was originally part of a wealthy nunnery that was abolished by the forces of Henry VIII - the monarch whose parents just happen to be the focus of The White Princess.

WELLS CATHEDRAL

England isn't short on lavish, ornate cathedrals, but even among stiff competition, Wells Cathedral manages to stand apart. Its intricate, Gothic façade is enough to bring out anyone's inner poet. When watching The White Princess, look out for glimpses of the cathedral in the scenes set in York, because the walls of this Somerset landmark are a stand-in for that grand old city. The production team were particularly pleased by the knowledge that the real Henry VII, whose story is told in The White Princess, stayed in Wells himself.

Look out as well for the scene in which Lizzie, wife of Henry, slinks away from her mother in Westminster and takes a boat ride along the Thames. The "Thames" is in fact the glistening moat at the Bishop's Palace, also in Wells, which was originally created by a 14th Century bishop as protection against unruly locals.

BERKELEY CASTLE

Anyone with a fascination for the darker chapters in Britain's past will rub their hands with anticipation when visiting Berkeley Castle. Standing proudly in Gloucestershire, it has a special, rather ominous place in history as the setting of Edward II's alleged murder. Which, as popular lore has it, was accomplished with the agonising insertion of a red-hot poker in a royal orifice. Historians may still debate what really happened, but the castle itself is undoubtedly grand, and its picture-perfect inner bailey can be seen in The White Princess, doubling as a busy courtyard at Westminster.

LACOCK

Fans of Downton Abbey and Harry Potter, not to mention many other period dramas, will already know Lacock - even if they don't know it. This nook in Wiltshire, which is almost completely owned by the National Trust, is such an unspoilt, chocolate box English village that it's long been a favourite with filmmakers. Its quaint, Tudor cottages and local church can be seen in The White Princess, doubling for a bygone London.

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL

Onwards to yet another majestic, picture-postcard cathedral. Towering stained glass windows, bejewelled with multi-coloured depictions of Biblical scenes, along with its sweeping vaulted ceiling make Gloucester Cathedral quite the looker. It's also the final resting place of long-gone figures, including an ancient Anglo-Saxon king called Osric. The White Princess makes interesting use of the cathedral, transforming its eerie, atmospheric crypt into the private quarters of Elizabeth Woodville and her family.

ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL

One of the most radiant, fantasy-like settings in The White Princess is Burgundy, where English emissaries travel to make a potential alliance with local aristocrats. If it makes you swoon - and it very probably will - you can get a taste of it yourself by visiting Arundel Cathedral, where the Burgundy scenes were filled. It's a relatively recent addition to the West Sussex countryside, dating back to the Victorian period. Which makes it a mere pup compared to some of the ages-old settings of this opulent series.